Combined vacuum sealed window and venetian blind housing



D. ENGEL Nov. 10, 1953 COMBINED VACUUM SEALED WINDOW AND VENETIAN BLINDHOUSING Filed Nov. 8, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 flavid' Z'nyel INVENTORATTORNEYS- Nov. 10, 1953 N E 2,658,570

COMBINED VACUUM SEALED WINDOW AND VENETIAN BLIND HOUSING 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed Nov. 8, 1951 5 fiaviZZ-EngeZ INVENTOR I BY f 1 I I ATTORNEYS-Patented Nov. 10, 1953 COMBINED VACUUM SEALED WINDOW AND VENETIAN BLINDHOUSING David Engel, Uniontown, Pa.

Application November 8, 1951, Serial N 0. 255,414

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to window construction, the primary object of theinvention being to provide a window of box-like form, so constructed andarranged that a conventional Venetian bl-ind may be housed therein,thereby protecting the slats of the Venetian blind against dust,condensation and other foreign matter, to the end that the Venetianblind will be maintained in a clean condition at all times.

An important object of the invention is to provide a window which isconstructed to provide a vacuum sealed chamber in which the electricaloperating means for operating the Venetian blind is also supportedwithin the vacuum sealed chamber, to the end that the window isinsulated against heat and cold, the Venetian blind providing means toprotect the window against heat radiation, caused by sun rays strikingthe window panes.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a vacuumsealed window embodying spaced members between which a Venetian blind ismounted, the window being supported on vertical pivots for rotation in ahorizontal plane to permit the window to be opened as desired.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the.description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully describedand pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may bemade in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing fromthe spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the upper portion of awindow, constructed in accordance with the invention, illustrating aVenetian blind supported therein.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the window construction.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View through the frame of the window, aportion of the window being shown in section to illustrate the interiorstructure thereof.

Fig. 4 illustrates the grill which encloses one side of the lowerportion of the window construction.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental sectional view illustrating the electricalconnections between the stationary contacts and movable contacts of thewindow through which electric current passes to the operating motor.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view illustrating the contacts between themovable window and the stationary window frame.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the bearing clips in which thewindow bearing pins operate.

Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating the electrical circuits to theoperating means of the device.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the window comprises asubstantially wide sash indicatedgenerally by the reference character 5,the edges of the sash being formed with the rabbet 6 for the receptionof the windowpanes 1 and .8, which are disposed at opposite sides of thesash, suitable insulating and securingmeans such-as plas tic or the likebeing positioned within the rabbbet for engagement with the window panesto secure the window panes within the window sash in such a way as toprovide a vacuum seal for the window panes.

The reference character 8' indicates clamps which are used to engage theedges of the window panes and clamp them in position within the rabbetof the window sash, as clearly shown by Fig. 3 of the drawings.

Brackets 9 are bolted to the clips 8' and connect the clips 8 atopposite side edges of the window sash. Pivot pins i0 extend from theupper and lower bars of the window sash at points intermediate the endsthereof, the pivot pins operating in the openings ll of the bearingclips I 2 which are secured withinthe window sash opening.

Mounted within the window at the base thereof, are upstanding bearingarms l3 and M, the bearing arms l3 providing bearings for the shaft |5while the bearing arms l4 provide bearings for the shaft IS. The innerbearing arms |3 and 4 are spaced apart providing a clearance for theelectric motor indicated at H which is mounte ed within the window, theelectric motor having its shaft |8 extended through the ends of themotor housing, where the shaft supports the pulleys I9 and 20. The belt2|. operatesover the pulley l9 and then passes over the pulley 22mounted on one end of the shaft l6, so that rotarymovement istransmitted to the pulley 22 and shaft I6. Operating over the pulley 20,is the belt 23 that operates over the pulley 24, the pulley 24 beingsecured to the inner end of the shaft |5 to rotate the shaft l5 asdesired.

Associated with the belt 2|, is the idle pulley 25 that is supported onthe arm 26 providing an extension of the core of the solenoid 21, andsince under normal conditions, the belt 2| is loose to normally slideover the pulley 22, it will be obvious that when the solenoid 21 isenergized, the idle pulley 25 will be drawn into close engagement withthe belt 2| tightening the belt so that movement will be transmitted tothe shaft 16, through said belt.

At the outer end of the shaft I6 is the drum 28 on which the cord 29winds when it is desired to raise the Venetian blind. As shown, the cord29 extends over the pulley 30 mounted on one end of the bar 3!, whichprovides the supporting bar for the Venetian blind indicated generallyby the reference character 32, the cord passing through openings in theslats of the Venetian blind, where it connects with the lowermost slator bar of the Venetian blind to the end that as the cord 29 is wound onthe drum 28 the slats of the Venetian blind will be elevated and causedto pile one upon another in the usual and well known manner.

Secured to one end of the shaft I5, is the pulley 33 over which the cord34 operates, the pulley 33 being substantially smaller than the drum 28since the cord 34 is so constructed and arranged that it will tilt thesupporting bar 3| of the Venetian blind to move the slats of theVenetian blind to their open or closed positions, as desired. As shown,the cord is in loop form and operates over the pulley 35 secured to oneend of the supporting bar.

The belt 23 which transmits motion from the pulley 29 to the pulley 24is normally loose to slip over the pulleys and will not under normalconditions, operate to rotate the shaft 25. Mounted adjacent to the belt23, is the idle pulley 36 which engages the belt to tighten the belt andcause the belt to frictionally engage the pulley 24 to transmit movementto the pulley and shaft I5.

The idle pulley 36 is mounted on the arm 31 that forms an extension onthe core 38 of the solenoid 39 so that by completing the circuit to thesolenoid 39, the belt may be tensioned for operation.

Since the window is mounted for rotation within its frame proper,contact pins 40 extend through the bottom of the window structure, andcontact with the contact pins 4! that extend upwardly though the frameproper so that electric current may pass through the contact pins 40 and4| to the solenoids and motor.

Formed directly below the lower bar of the window is a compartment whichis closed by means of the doors 42, in which the battery and switches ofthe device are mounted, the battery being illustrated by the referencecharacter 43 and is in circuit with the solenoids 2'! and 39 through thewire 44 and switches 45.

The solenoids 21 and 39 are in circuit with the motor I! through thewire 41.

The wire 48 provides a circuit between the battery and motor, while thewire 49 provides a circuit between the motor and switch 50, the switch59 being in circuit with the motor through the wire and is so arrangedthat it will cause the rotation of the motor in one direction. Theswitch 52 is in circuit with the motor I1, through the wire 53 and is soarranged that when the circuit is completed through the switch 52, the

motor will operate in the opposite direction, one direction being toprovide rotation of the motor to elevate or raise the Venetian blind,while the motor operating in the opposite direction will operate tolower the Venetian blind.

The window is equipped with the sliding bolt 54 whereby the window maybe bolted against pivotal movement within its frame.

The compartment formed below the lower bar of the window and which hasone side thereof closed by the doors 42, may be ventilated by openingsaid doors 42. The compartment has its opposite side closed by the grill56, which is provided with the strip of fiber glass 51 on the rear ofthe grill.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shownand described, I have provided a window which is mounted for pivotalmovement within its frame, the window embodying a box-like body portionwherein the Window panes are spaced apart and secured within the framein such a way as to provide a vacuum seal between the Window panes andframe. The Venetian blind is mounted within the vacuum chamber formedbetween the window panes to protect the slats of the Venetian blindagainst dust, condensation or other foreign matter to maintain theVenetian blind clean at all times. In addition, it will be obvious thatdue to the construction of the window, the window will be insulated andthe Venetian blind mounted within the window may be operated todissipate heat caused by radiation.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A Venetian blind operating mechanism comprising stationary verticalbearing arms, horizontal shafts axially aligned, mounted in the bearingsof the vertical bearing arms, an electric motor mounted within the spacebetween said adjacent ends of the shafts, belts operating between themotor and horizontal shafts rotating said horizontal shafts, a liftingpulley secured to one of said shafts, a lifting cord operated by saidpulley adapted to move the slats vertically, a slat tilting meansincluding a pulley secured to the other shaft, and a slat tilting cordoperating over said pulley of the slat tilting means, a normally looseinactive belt adapted to transmit rotary movement from said motor to thelatter shaft and pulley, and electrically controlled means fortightening said normally loose belt on the pulley of the slat tiltingmeans, operating said slot tilting pulley.

DAVID ENGEL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS SmithSept. 4, 1951

